Representatives from local Indigenous communities and the navy gathered to celebrate NAIDOC week and to pay respects to traditional owners. Message sticks were presented by HMAS Albatross to the Chief Executive Officers of the Nowra, Jerrinja, Wreck Bay and Ulladulla Land Councils. The message sticks traditionally give the right of passage to walk across a persons country. "Because they're presented by the navy it's in reverse," said Wreck Bay Elder Paul McLeod. "The navy are paying their respects back to the traditional custodians and saying, thank you, this is the message stick that's given us precedent to walk across land." Captain Stephen Arney and Director of NASPO (Navy Aviation Systems Program Office) was one of the speakers at the event. "Event today was really HMAS Albatross looking to truly celebrate NAIDOC as a significant event on our national calendar," he said. Read more: "I think we have an obligation as Australians like all others to look at ways we can protect the Indigenous history and culture. "We are in a region that has a strong indigenous presence and we want to make sure that we're working with the community more broadly to do what we can to help them." The event also featured a smoking ceremony and performances by the Doonooch Dancers of Wreck Bay and the navy Bungaree Dancers. "Bungaree dance troupe has been around the navy for a few years now and we're just getting up and again," said Bungaree Dancer, Able Seamen Henry Burns. "We have dancers that perform from all over Australia, and I've flown over from Western Australia." Event planner and Wiradjuri woman Delwyn Byron said there was a lot of organisation involed, starting back in October last year. "It's a lot of planning, it's a lot of liaising," she said. "It's a rewarding job, I draw on my own families past histories and that's what keeps me motivated. "It's just about people coming together and sharing culture and peoples experiences whether you're indigenous or not."